I still remember watching Greg Slaughter's early games in the PBA with such excitement. Standing at 6'11", he wasn't just tall - he moved with a grace that reminded me of those dominant junior golfers from the North squad I once witnessed, athletes who handled pressure with remarkable poise despite challenging conditions. There's something special about watching a giant who can actually play basketball, not just occupy space. Slaughter's journey through Philippine basketball has been one of those fascinating stories that makes you wonder what could have been, what should have been, and what actually happened.
When Greg entered the PBA as the first overall pick in the 2013 draft, the expectations were sky-high. I recall thinking Barangay Ginebra had finally found their franchise center, that missing piece to build around for the next decade. His rookie season didn't disappoint - he put up solid numbers, around 11 points and 8 rebounds per game if memory serves me right, while showing flashes of the dominant big man he could become. The footwork for someone his size was genuinely impressive, and he had soft hands that could catch anything thrown near him. But looking back, I think we all underestimated how difficult it would be for a player of his style to thrive in the PBA's increasingly fast-paced game. The league was shifting toward positionless basketball while Slaughter represented a more traditional, back-to-the-basket center.
What fascinates me about Slaughter's career trajectory is how it mirrors that dominant North squad performance I mentioned earlier - starting strong but eventually facing challenges that changed the narrative entirely. After six seasons with Ginebra, during which he won a championship in 2018 and made three All-Star appearances, something shifted. The 2019 season saw his minutes decrease significantly, down to about 18 per game from his usual 25-30. I remember watching games where he'd be on the bench during crucial fourth-quarter moments, and you could see the frustration on his face. The game was evolving away from his skill set, and Tim Cone's system demanded more mobility from his big men.
Then came what I consider the turning point - his shocking decision to take a sabbatical in 2020. The official reason cited was "personal reasons," but those of us following closely knew there were deeper issues. From what I gathered through sources within the league, there were disagreements about his role in the team and how he was being utilized. He felt underappreciated, maybe even misused. I'll be honest - at the time, I thought this was a mistake. Taking extended time away from professional basketball rarely ends well, especially for players whose games rely on rhythm and timing.
His eventual move to Japan's B.League in 2021 made sense geographically but surprised me in terms of timing. He joined the Rizing Zephyr Fukuoka, where he averaged approximately 9 points and 6 rebounds in his first season. The Japanese game suited him better in some ways - slightly less physical, more structured - but he still struggled with the pace. What struck me during his time there was how open he was about enjoying the different basketball culture, the emphasis on fundamentals over pure athleticism. In interviews, he sounded like someone who had found peace with his career trajectory, even if it hadn't unfolded as originally planned.
Now, at 34 years old, Slaughter finds himself in a interesting position. After his Japanese stint, he returned to the Philippines but not to the PBA - instead joining the Visayas-Mindanao region's team in the MPBL, that regional league that's been gaining traction. It's ironic, really - a player who once represented Luzon's basketball excellence now finding himself on what you might call the "other side" of that regional rivalry, much like those junior golfers from Visayas-Mindanao who started strong but ultimately couldn't maintain their momentum against the dominant North squad.
Watching his recent games, I've noticed something different about his approach. He's lost some of that explosive athleticism he had in his prime, but he's developed a more reliable outside shot and seems to have better court vision. His statistics in the MPBL have been respectable - around 14 points and 9 rebounds per game last I checked - but what doesn't show up in the stat sheet is the leadership he's providing to younger players. He's become that veteran presence who understands the game at a deeper level, the kind of player who can read defensive schemes and make the right pass out of double teams.
If you ask me where I think Slaughter's career goes from here, I'd say he's likely in his final chapter as a professional player. The PBA comeback rumors surface every offseason, but I'm skeptical they'll materialize into anything substantial. The game has moved on, and so has he. What's interesting is that he's been increasingly vocal about pursuing coaching once his playing days are over, and honestly, I think he'd be excellent at it. His basketball IQ was always underrated, and he understands the nuances of the center position in ways few Filipino players do.
Reflecting on Slaughter's journey, I can't help but feel it represents a larger story about Philippine basketball's evolution. We're caught between traditional big-man basketball and modern positionless play, and players like Slaughter sometimes fall through the cracks. His career wasn't what we expected when he was drafted first overall, but it wasn't a failure either. He won championships, represented the country internationally, and carved out a professional career that spanned over a decade across multiple leagues. Sometimes, I wonder if we judge players too harshly against their draft position rather than appreciating the careers they actually built. Greg Slaughter may not have become the dominant force we envisioned, but his story remains an important chapter in Philippine basketball history - one that teaches us about adaptation, resilience, and finding your path when the original plan doesn't work out.